C1530 Leading the Way
The Dragon Slaying Stage had undergone a significant transformation, thanks to the Titan Spinosaurus. Yu Yuan knew without a doubt that the stage, having been enhanced by the World-Sundering Stone through countless refinements, had experienced a profound leap in quality.
Whoosh!
Atop the Dragon Slaying Stage, Yu Yuan sat in contemplation, surrounded by the vastness of the extraterrestrial Star River. He was quietly attuning himself to the young creature's emotions, seeking to understand them.
He soon realized that the young beast's yearning for external energy was, in essence, hunger. Having matured through the lineage of the golden dragon, it would soon require nourishment. Its sustenance didn't come from flesh and blood but from various forms of energy. Whether in the Everlands or the desolate Star River, wherever energy existed, the Dragon Slaying Stage could harness it, allowing the creature to feed.
"Eating..." Yu Yuan mused, stroking his chin as he watched the spiritual energy, now cleansed and purified, fall like dewdrops. The little world that entombed the three Dragon Gods was undergoing wondrous changes as a result.
Beneath the surface of the three realms, an unusual crystalline glow streamed towards the violet-gold dragon egg. The young beast inside was absorbing this subterranean light into its very bones and flesh, amassing strength.
"To break through from the Solar Spirit to the Unbound Realm," he thought, "one must find something that resonates with oneself. It could be a domain, an object, or even an intangible essence..."
Gazing down at the Dragon Slaying Stage beneath him, Yu Yuan was lost in thought. The stage was perfectly suited to his merge technique. Yet now, with an active Titan Spinosaurus within, he pondered whether the growth of the young creature might somehow influence his own path of merging.
Time passed swiftly.
In just a few days, the young beast within the Dragon Slaying Stage ceased its external energy consumption. Its first feeding had come to an end. Likely due to its youth, there was a limit to the energy it could absorb at one time.
After its meal, the creature slipped into a deep slumber, its heartbeat slowing to a gentle rhythm. Observing from within the Dragon Slaying Stage, Yu Yuan noted a significant enhancement in the spiritual energy across the boundaries of the three little worlds.
In that moment, his gaze was drawn to the Everlands, bathed in a soft blue luminescence.
Whoosh!
Yu Yuan, aboard the Dragon Slaying Stage, soared back toward the Everlands.
The cultivators stationed in the extraterrestrial realm, serving the five supreme powers, tensed once more.
Unperturbed, he and the Dragon Slaying Stage pierced through the wall, returning to the Rainbow Ocean in a blink.
Upon entering the Rainbow Ocean, his Solar Spirit emerged from within him and set off for the Order of Healing.
He intended to speak with Xia Nan to arrange for some of the Order of Healing and Sacred Hands' herbalists, skilled in pharmacology, to travel to Celestial Isle in the Sundering Isles. There, they would rendezvous with Yin Xueqi, who had defected from the Artifact Sect, to prepare for their eventual departure from the Everlands.
As his true form materialized on the Dragon Slaying Stage, Tian Zang, Yan Qiling, and Jiang Miaojie immediately approached.
"What business took you to the extraterrestrial realms?" inquired Yan Qiling, who had learned of Yu Yuan's breach through the Skyreach Consortium's wall into the starry depths. "The outside is swarming with their forces. It would be wise to exercise caution."
"At this juncture, we need not fret over anyone within the Everlands," interjected Ghost King Tian Zang.
Jiang Miaojie, slightly crestfallen, remarked, "Why didn't you take me with you? I reached the Everlands directly through the Domain Channel from the Hellmouth and Moonfall Sanctuary. I've yet to glimpse the Everlands from the outside."
Yu Yuan, maintaining his composure, offered a smile. "I needed some solitude to reflect on certain matters."
"Have you reached a conclusion?" Jiang Miaojie pressed.
"I suppose I have," Yu Yuan acknowledged with a nod, then addressed Yan Qiling, "Later, inform Feng Zhong to escort Yin Xueqi and some of the Order of Healing's herbalists to the Darkpinion. My initial plans must continue."
"The Darkpinion?" Yan Qiling mused, eyes narrowing. After a brief pause, he added, "Utilizing the unique conditions of the Darkpinion to cultivate exotic flora is feasible. But if you're aiming to refine pills, you'll need to venture to Ionodios."
Yu Yuan paused, taken aback.
Yan Qiling elaborated, "The Ionodios boasts the highest pill refinement success rate outside of the Everlands. In other realms, the territories of the Otherkin, even the Shadowkin and Wingkind sanctuaries, struggle to produce effective pills."
Upon saying that, Yu Yuan was suddenly struck by the memory of his inability to refine pills in Zekrica, no matter his efforts.
The simplest pills, which even apprentice herbalists could craft in the Everlands, were impossible to solidify into pill form in Zekrica; they could only be made into medicinal liquids.
Left with no other option, he had to concoct some medicinal liquid for Denise.
At the time, he sensed something was off, as it appeared that herbalists existed solely in the Everlands.
In the Domain, the Shadowkin, whose lands were ever teeming with lush plants, had herbalists, but there was no mention of pill refining.
It seemed that herbalists and pills were unique to the Everlands.
"Is there something unique about Ionodios?" he inquired earnestly.
Following his question, everyone's expression turned peculiar, except for Yan Qiling's.
Jiang Miaojie, born in the extraterrestrial, was equally baffled.
"It's because Lord Taishi is in Ionodios."
Yan Qiling was forthright, aware that the matters concerning the Taishi God-King would soon become common knowledge.
"Lord Taishi resonates with the cosmic order of the Everlands. His presence in Ionodios altered its cosmic order to match that of the Everlands, which is why he could successfully condense pills."
"The Earth?" Yu Yuan paused, "Isn't that related to the swordsmanship that Gu Xingkui was studying?"
"Gu Xingkui?"
Yan Qiling and Tian Zang exchanged knowing smiles, aware that with Taishi's retreat, Gu Xingkui's divine position was bound to crumble, and the portion of the cosmic order he governed would reintegrate with Taishi's divine seat.
"Now I see."
Their expressions told Yu Yuan that Gu Xingkui's fate was likely sealed, and he also grasped that Taishi's sacred way could enable the herbalist's pills to take form.
Because Taishi was in Ionodios and had altered its cosmic order, he was able to refine pills there.
"We're all allies here, so let me ask one more thing. Is Taishi attempting to incubate something in Ionodios?" Yu Yuan ventured cautiously.
Tian Zang and Yan Qiling's expressions changed abruptly, signaling for silence, a clear indication not to utter the name of that entity.
The term 'Titan Spinosaurus' seemed to be a taboo within the Everlands!
Both men, along with Jiang Miaojie, cast wary glances at the sky, seemingly concerned that Yu Yuan's words might draw some unwanted attention or scrutiny.
"Don't speak its name, not just yet!" Yan Qiling said gravely. He gestured to Yu Yuan to remain quiet and exchanged a meaningful look with Tian Zang.
Jiang Miaojie was left somewhat perplexed by their actions.
"Hold on, I'll request Lord Xu to shield this area," Yan Qiling said, clearing his throat. "Your Shadowflame Blight Array here isn't exactly foolproof."
With those words, a slender space rift abruptly appeared, and the Evil Statue, crafted within the Sword Prison, emerged and floated gently down.
The dual faces of the statue, embodying both malevolence and benevolence, grew indistinct and faded.
At a glance, it resembled two simple moonstone slabs with basic engravings, set beside the grass hut in the marshland.
Yet, as the statue touched down, Yu Yuan sensed a cool energy gently enveloping the vicinity.
This chill presence ensured that any high being in the Everlands attempting to cast a spell or listen in would encounter it, and in doing so, would immediately alert Lord Xu.
Once the statue was in place, Tian Zang, Yan Qiling, and Jiang Miaojie visibly relaxed, as if a great weight had been lifted from their souls.
"Him?" Yu Yuan looked at the statue, his feelings suddenly mixed. "Aren't you going to greet him?"
"If no face appears on either side of the statue, it means he's not present," Yan Qiling explained with a light laugh. "Even if his soul and attention are elsewhere, the statue still exerts its influence as long as it remains."
Yu Yuan nodded, signaling his understanding.
"Taishi once mentioned the plan to forge the New Everlands, a matter I was not deemed worthy to know. It was only recently, upon my return to the Moonfall Sanctuary, that I overheard Tianqi and Lord Xu discussing it again. That's how I came to be aware of it," Yan Qiling said with a serious tone.
"So, the New Everlands..." Tian Zang murmured to himself.
Jiang Miaojie remained composed as she interjected, "We've been exploring along the Star River and venturing into numerous forbidden areas. We're following the philosophy left by that individual to implement Project New Everlands."
"Crafting a New Everlands!"
Yu Yuan was profoundly shaken as the memory sparkles, long sealed away, were ignited by Tian Zang, Yan Qiling, and Jiang Miaojie's mentions of "New Everlands," causing them to burst forth explosively.
The glimmers of memory swiftly integrated into his soul, becoming part of him.
Project New Everlands was conceived at the height of Boulderdawn's power...
And the architect of this plan was none other than his first incarnation—the Taiyin God-King.
Faced with the Everlands' constrained growth and the increasingly arduous task of forging a Supreme God, the number of aspirants to such a divine station was on the rise.
Both the Bloodbrawlers and the Terra Fiend longed for a Supreme God, for it was their rightful claim.
Inside Boulderdawn, after Jihui God-King had claimed Taisu's sacred way, he too sought another seat of power.
Other human sects and the Shadow's Keep were equally eager for a new Supreme God.
Under these circumstances, an extremely aggressive and audacious plan was put forth by his former self.
—To create a New Everlands!
Deep within the extraterrestrial Star River, they would seek out another vast celestial body, transforming it into a new Everlands, capable of generating divine seats and offering pure spiritual energy for mortals to thrive.
It would become a mirror of the Everlands, granting humans and the archdemons of the Everlands a new wave of breakthroughs and growth!
Populations would swell, divine seats would multiply, and more illustrious champions and Monster Lords would emerge!
The linchpin of this plan was another Titan Spinosaurus.
They had to locate the dragon egg left by the Titan Spinosaurus, resurrect it, and transport it to a suitable Domain to serve as the cornerstone of the New Everlands.
It would become the Heart of the Everlands!
Regarding the other elements, such as the Root of the Lunar Meridian and the various wonders of the Everlands, they would need to devise a way to transfer them into the New Everlands to help it take shape, making it indistinguishable from the current Everlands.
This perilous plan, fraught with uncertainties, faced staunch opposition from Taishi as soon as it was proposed.
Almost all the supreme sects outside of Boulderdawn, along with Shadow's Keep, were unanimously opposed to this mad scheme. They believed that this plan would obliterate everything that Everlands had established!
The fall of Boulderdawn was inextricably linked to Project New Everlands.
Following the sect's demise, the plan withered away, lost to the annals of history, becoming unknown and unspoken of.
Yet, according to Jiang Miaojie...
Boulderdawn had been quietly advancing Project New Everlands from the extraterrestrial reaches.
Taishi, in the Ionodios Realm, conspired with other God-Kings to slay the Demon God Grec. They used his lifeblood, rich with the essence of the Root of the Solar Meridian, to incubate the offspring of a Titan Spinosaurus.
It was evident that he was propelling this plan forward!
As he pondered deeply, Yan Qiling, Ghost King Tian Zang, and Jiang Miaojie continued their discussion about Project New Everlands.
"I chose to follow Taishi because even the revered Demon God Bertain is involved. Boulderdawn is tasked with hatching... that creature. And Demon God Bertain has vowed to oversee the cycle of souls and their renewal in New Everlands, addressing the matters of the Lunar Meridian," Jiang Miaojie explained.
"Taishi also has the opportunity to inscribe the cosmic orders he has discerned into the land of New Everlands," Tian Zang added somberly.
"For tens of thousands of years, the visionary who initiated Project New Everlands has cast a long shadow over us," Jiang Miaojie said, inhaling deeply, her expression one of longing and respect.
"His policies and strategies are the beacon that guides us! On the fringes of the starry skies, we have always been quietly advancing the Project New Everlands he laid out so long ago!"
"Soul-Capturing, Tianqi, and Lord Xu all see him as their guide."
